Birds of the World

Kinglet Calyptura Calyptura cristata Scientific name definitions

David Snow, Eduardo de Juana, and Christopher J. Sharpe
Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020
Text last updated December 30, 2014

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Introduction

The Kinglet Calyptura is among the most enigmatic and poorly understood species of Neotropical birds. A bizarre bird, it resembles a kinglet (Regulus) in size and shape, but its true taxonomic affinities remained unclear for a long time. While a number of specimens were obtained prior to the beginning of the Twentieth Century, it was unrecorded for over a hundred years before its dramatic rediscovery in 1996. Virtually nothing is known of its habits, although it is thought to feed on insects and small fruits. Currently, most of the lowland forest that it prefers has been cleared from within its small range in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Its current population size is surely extremely small, and conservation of this unique species is considered a major priority.

Field Identification

7·5–8 cm. Very tiny tyrannid, reminiscent of a kinglet (Regulus) except for conical bill with strongly arched culmen, very short tail. Male has black-bordered large orange-red crown patch, feathers somewhat elongated; bright olive above, rump yellow; wings and tail mostly dusky, tips of greater and median wing coverts with obvious white bars, tertials also tipped white; underparts yellow, olive wash on breast; bare part colors not recorded, bill and legs apparently dark. Female has reduced patch on crown. Juvenile undescribed.

Systematics History

Monotypic.

Subspecies

Monotypic.

Distribution

Rio de Janeiro area of SE Brazil; formerly also São Paulo (1).

Habitat

Forest and second-growth woodland, probably to c. 900 m; recently rediscovered at c. 550 m.

Movement

None recorded.

Diet and Foraging

Insects and small fruits; according to old account, especially berries of a solanaceous shrub.

Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Not recorded.

Breeding

No information.

CRITICALLY ENDANGERED. Restricted-range species: present in Atlantic Forest Lowlands EBA. Only definitely recorded from a few localities in Rio de Janeiro state; there is a specimen labelled “São Paulo” (2), the provenance of which is uncertain (3), and unconfirmed sight records from the state (4, 5). Had not been recorded for over a century, and presumed extinct by many ornithologists, until remarkable rediscovery in Oct 1996: two individuals observed on several occasions during 27th–30th Oct on edge of Serra dos Órgãos National Park, c. 60 km N of city of Rio de Janeiro (6). Despite intensive searches at same locality and suitable areas nearby, no further sightings made. Believed to have been not uncommon in 19th century, since over 55 specimens exist in museum collections (last one dated c. 1890) (5). Deforestation appears to have been the major threat: virtually all forest below 1000 m within the species' range has been destroyed since the 19th century collections, mainly to make way for coffee plantations and, to a lesser extent, for gold and diamond mining. However, 1996 sightings were in second growth (4). It has been recorded close to Serra dos Órgãos National Park and suitable habitat is to be found within the Reserva Ecologica Guapiaçu. Full protection of remaining lowland forest in the vicinity considered a priority conservation measure. Remaining forests of Rio de Janeiro should also be comprehensively surveyed (5). The diminutive size of Kinglet Calyptura makes it very difficult to detect, and it is probably not extinct (4). Intensive surveys will, it is hoped, result in further observations of this almost unknown cotingid; it should be sought at fruiting plants.

Distribution of the Kinglet Calyptura - Range Map
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  • Migration
  • Breeding
  • Non-Breeding
Distribution of the Kinglet Calyptura

Recommended Citation

Snow, D., E. de Juana, and C. J. Sharpe (2020). Kinglet Calyptura (Calyptura cristata), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.kincal1.01
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